Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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As I've written here before, I have IBS which is why I've started Paleo. I am noticing a decrease of bloating on this diet, which is great. However the one symptom that hasn't changed yet is the spasm. My ascending colon (especially where it curves into the transverse colon underneath the right ribcage), goes into a spasm every time I move my bowels, and it lasts basically for the rest of the day. It's like my colon just squeezes shut, like someone has snapped a vice around it. Needless to say, this makes it basically impossible to pass gas because it's trapped there, and the spasm itself is also very uncomfortable. And even just bearing down a little bit will throw me into spasm.

I know that IBS is very complex and multi-factored and may take some time to sort out, but wondering if there is anything I can do prevent that spasm or to relieve it once it's there (I get a lot of abdominal massages).

flag	asked Oct 21 2011 at 14:42 Renee 11.2k●1●4●42

this might help, sounds like bowel spasms paleohacks.com/questions/30112/… – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Oct 21 2011 at 14:46

Lily · Answer 1 · 2011-11-05 13:08:22Z UTC

This might not be completely a metabolic/ digestive problem.It quite possibly is related with muscles and pelvic floor, which could be too tense or some sacral nerves are innervating it in the wrong way. Perhaps try going to the bathroom and doing everything in a squatting position-things will come out better.Check your spine and pelvic tilt. Also, your colon might be deformed, like twisted-so this makes it harder for everything to come out-can't really do anything about that. I think people label everything too easily IBS, when the reasons could be else...

sophie · Answer 2 · 2011-11-05 13:37:54Z UTC

This might sound ridiculous, but I was getting tightness and a very uncomfortable feeling under my ribs, and still get it. However, I had hypnosis and learnt to control it. If your autonomic nervous system is going into overdrive it can be subconsciously controlled- it doesn't necessarily have to have physical causes. You might want to give that a go...

Jules K · Answer 3 · 2011-10-21 23:06:13Z UTC

This sounds like something that used to happen to me frequently- I'd wake up with this weird crampy sensation, uh, back there, but unlike yours, I got relief from going to the bathroom. This rarely happens any more now that I've been paleo for awhile, but I guess I can't be totally sure why. I wonder if hot baths might help?

spasm after going to the bathroom (warning, may be TMI)

3 Answers